B’WATTE HILL TO BE FLATTENED TO PREVENT LANDSLIDES

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has decided to flatten the Bandarawatta hill in Ayagama in the Ratnapura district to protect Ayagama town from an impending landslide.

Residents informed Chief Minister Maheepala Herath who visited the area in the aftermath of the recent landslide that several public institutions including the Ayagama police station the divisional secretariat, the pradeshiya sabha office, the public library and the grama niladhari office and more than 30 private sector establishments were in danger of being damaged or destroyed.

They said 13 houses and four business establishments were razed to the ground by the recent landslide and that about 30 business establishments and 15 houses had been deserted in fear of more danger.

He said this would be the first such action to prevent landslides

District Parliamentarian Janaka Wakkumbura said he made a request to the Disaster Management Committee during its meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena to flatten the hill. He said this would be the first such action to prevent landslides.

The Chief Minister assured the residents to have the hill flattened within two weeks so as to prevent any impending danger.

Ayagama Gangarama Sri Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent the Ven. Rambukkana Dhammadinna Thera, Chief Secretary Herath P. Kularatne, Ministry Secretaries Kapila Perera and D.M. Malini accompanied when he inspected the area.